I have boxes of photos to sort through, an office that is overflowing with papers that should be discarded and that sewing room.

For too many years I purchased patterns because I liked them without considering if they would look good on me or if I would ever wear that. Same with fabric. just buy it withough thinking about what I would make. I am very ready to go through all this and rethink things. My life has changed -- I will not be working in an office again although I will hopefully have a part time job soon. That life change alone eliminates some patterns and fabrics.

So, any ideas of how to sell patterns and fabrics. It would not hurt to bring in a little cash for all this. -- Edited on 7/25/13 10:35 AM --

Hello Kathy,
I'm in the same place you are---mentally, but not yet doing. So many of these fabrics & patterns have become irrelevant to my life now, and I keep on thinking that someone else could actually Use them, since I'm just providing a Warehouse for storage.

I agree with marec. Listing them in the Classifieds would be the easiest for you, unlike ebay or setting up an Etsy shop.

If they are Big 4 patterns, I think you'll do better providing a link or a scan. If I see a Classified listing that just has a bunch of pattern numbers (no description or image) I don't take the time to look them up.

I recently did this, too. I got rid of a bunch of corduroy that I know I will never get around to sewing. I also filled a box of patterns that I won't be making up in my lifetime. I haven't decided what to do with them; it seems what little I can get for them is hardly worth my while.

I have a box full of books that I need to scan to post in the classifieds.

I sold a couple of sewing machines and some embroidery stuff through Craigslist. I still have a couple of sergers to sell, probably here in the classifieds.

I'm also reorganizing my sewing room to be smarter about the space. I got rid of a desk that was just a hotspot for junk and replaced it with storage shelves to contain/hide stuff. It's so much more visually pleasing and the whole process has been so freeing.

Quote: KathySews For too many years I purchased patterns because I liked them without considering if they would look good on me or if I would ever wear that. Same with fabric. just buy it without thinking about what I would make.

I can so relate to this.....

for patterns, most of mine seemed rather ordinary, so I donated them. If you have independent pattern companies, I think you could probably sell them here on PR. people seem to have some luck selling fabric here also.

I have a lot of paper-crafting and stamping supplies that I need to purge the heck out of....

Hmm. Must be a virus going around because I've caught it, too, though my purge extends to everything in the house. Can't tell you how many loads I've hauled to consignment stores and charity shops in the last couple of weeks with more to go. My curse is a reluctance to throw out anything made of fabric: oh, I can restyle that; oh, I can use that fabric to make something else; oh, that wouldn't be so hard to resize; oh, I'd better keep that in case I lose/gain weight.

Well, it's all going out the door if it is not in immediately usable shape or has gone unworn for the last year or if I simply don't like it. Out! The quilting fabric has been donated along with the quilting books and patterns I will never make have been donated as well.

I agree too! My packrat DH finally cleaned up some stuff (a several months in the making pile...sigh) from the floor by his side of the bed, and wow does that clear space make a difference. (Now if he would move on to the home office and the basement rec room and...I used to think I was a packrat but nope, DH has me beat!)

I'm going to be de-stashing patterns soon, but don't know how many people will want patterns that look like the very baggy clothes from Annie Hall. I liked the patterns when I bought them, but my size went up and down so much I never made the outfits.

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